The Inn Crowd

If the Bavarian Neuschwanstein castle was the inspiration for Disneyland's castle, then Innsbruck quite possibly was the inspiration for Fantasyland. Renowned for its two-time hosting gig of the Winter Olympics as well as its wintery charm, Innsbruck was my decided last road trip (or track trip, in this case) of the journey.

This town really packs a lot of punch. Historical value through inviting churches and museums? Check. Cool sports spectacle through the Bergisel ski jump used in past Olympics (right smack in the city)? Check. Delightful Altstadt showcasing its lively Christmas market? Check. Snug, river-lining houses painted in every shade of cheerful? Check. Swarovski headquarters featuring bizarre "Crystal Worlds" museum/multi-media art installation that had almost nothing to do with crystals? Check. (The underground giant pic at Swarovski is a tip-off to that place's weirdness.) Only snowy mountainsides could have made the scene more quaint.

For a makes-you-feel-so-tiny town with its surrounding peaks on all sides, fairytale-like Innsbruck drew me in and delivered big for my last week. It really is a small world after all.